Fire-plug and hydrant



(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.-

H. SCHNEIDER.

FIRE PLUG AND HYDRANT; No. 299,858. PatentedJune 3, 1884.

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H. SCHNEIDER.

FIRE PLUG AND HYDRANT- No. 299,858. Patented June 3, 1884.

Enron.

ATENT HUGO SCHNEIDER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO FIRE-PLUG AND HY DRANT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,858, dated June 3, 1884. Application filed December 3, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGO SCHNEIDER, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Plu gs and Hydrants; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an'improvement in fire-plugs and hydrants; and it consists, first, in the combination of a suitable water-chainber which has perforations through its sides, and which has a perforated plug placed in its upper portion,with an endwise-moving valve rod which hasa stationary valve secured to its lower end, a sliding valve which is placed upon the rod, and a spring which is placed between the two valves for the purpose of separating them. The object of this part of my invention isto do away with the usual cylinders and piston-valves, which are so liable to leak after being used but a short time, and to substitute two compressionvalves, one of which has a sliding movement upon the valverod, and which closes the leak-holes while the water is passing through the plug or hydrant by the pressure of the spring, but which is forced downward by the endwise movement of the valve-rod when the flow of water is shut off.

It consists, second, in a valve-rod provided with a valve upon its lower end,with a sliding compression-valve which is placed loosely upon the rod,which is provided with a shoulder for catching against the top of the sliding valve for the purpose of forcing it downward, and a spring for forcing the sliding'valve upward as soon as it is left free to move. The object of this part of my invention is to dispense with an elastic rubber ring and washer, which has heretofore been used, and to substitute for it a sliding valve for the purpose of closing the leak-holes, and thus secure a more positive, quick, and reliable action than can be secured where an elastic ring or valve is used.

It consists, third, in the combination of the valve-rod,which is held in a vertical position by the screw-plug which is placed in the upper part of the water-chamber, with a metallic shell which is placed in the upper end of the stand-pipe, and which prevents the upward passage of the water above the discharge &

nozzle, a vertically-moving nut or plug which is placed inside of this shell, to which the operating-rodisswiveled,and aplug or nutwhich closes the upper end of the stand-pipe and keeps the other parts in position. The object of this part of my invention is to enable the stand-pipe and all of its attachments to be removed, leaving the valves and the valve-rod in position, thus enabling repairs to be made without the necessity of removing the whole of the hydrant or plug.

Figure l is a vertical section of a hydrant or plug embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the water-chamber or the lower part of the plug or hydrant, showing the valves in a different position from what is shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views. Fig. 5 is a detached view showing the parts which form the valve separated from each other. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the shell, showingthe slots in its sides. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the water-chamber, showing the lower valves closed and the water escapin g through the leak-holes. Fig. 8 is a simi-' lar view showing the lower valve open and the upper one closed and the water passing freely through the hydrant.

A represents the water-chamber, which is provided with a screw-thread, B, in its lower end, for connection with the water-main, and which has the side passages, O, for the upward flow of the water after the valve D is closed. These passages G are made to pass outward or around the central portion of the chamber A, instead of allowing the water to pass directly up through its center, for the reason that in the center of the chamber A, near its upper end, is placed the grooved perforated plug E, which prevents all upward passage of the water through the center of the chamber. The upper portion of this chamber A, in which the screw-plug E is placed, is made screwthreaded, while at F the walls or shell is slightly enlarged, so as to allow the waste water that remains in the chamber after the valve 1) has been closed to flow freely up around the sides of the valve G, and make its escape through the perforations Hin the plug upon which the nut Y is screwed. Swiveled E, and from thence'pass out through the leakholes I, made in the side of the frame. The lower valve, D, is an ordinary compressionvalve, and is secured rigidly to the lower end of the valve-rod J, which has an endwise vertical movement. Upon this valve-rod J is placed the sliding valve G, which, when left free to move, is forced upward by the spring L against the under side of the perforated grooved plug E, for the purpose of shutting off any leakage of water through the holes I while the valve D is open and the water is passing up through the stand-pipe to the dischargenozzle 0. The valve G is made in the form of a sleeve, and has but a very slight vertical play, being moved upward by the spring L, and being forced downward away from the under side of the plug E by the shoulder P, which is formed on the valve-rod J for this I purpose. The distance between the two valves D G is so regulated that when the lower valve,

D, is raised upward to allow the water to pass freely through the plug or hydrant, as shown in Fig. 8, the valve Gis forced upward by the spring L, to shut off all leakage of the water;

but when the valve D is made to shut off the to operate one valve without operating the other at the same time, and thus a piston movement is given to each of the valves. These valves being ordinary compressionvalves, no wear whatever comes upon them, and hence they will last indefinitely. Where the valves are made to fit a cylinder and depend upon their packing to prevent leakage, they soon wear out, and cause considerable trouble and expense to keep them in order.

The stand-pipe N is secured in the upper part of the chamber A at R, as shown, and to the upper part of this stand-pipe N is secured the top piece, S, which is provided with the "discharge-nozzle O and the operating mechanism, by means of which the valve-rod J is moved endwise for the purpose of operating the valves D G. In this upper part S, just above the discharge-nozzle O, is formed the circular flange T, upon the top of which rests the packing-shell U, which, by forming a tight joint with the flange T, prevents any upward passage of the water above the discharge-nozzle. In the lower part of this shell U, around the valve-stem J, and through opposite sides of the upper portion of the shell, are formed slots or guides, for the purpose of preventing the nut W from having any other than a vertical movement. In the lower end of this shell is made a stuffing-box, V, for the purpose of forming a tight joint with the rod J, and thus preventing any leakage of water up into the chamber at this point. Upon the top of the valve-rod J is formed a screw-thread,

in the upper part of this nut WV is the screwshaft X, to the upper end of which is applied the operating handle or wheel, and by means of which shaft X the valve-rod J is moved endwise. In the upper end of the top part, S, is screwed the plug Y, which has its lower end to bear upon the top of the shell U, and thus force it down upon the flange T, for the purpose of forming a water-tight joint at that point. r This plug or nutYboth serves to hold the operating parts in position and as the guide for the screw-shaft X.

For the purpose of removing the valve, valve-rod, and other attachments for the pur pose of repairs, the water is first shut off from the main, and then the nut Y is removed. A suitable wrench or tool is then applied to the shell U, which has the nut 13 screwed into its lower end. The valve-rod J, being made square at C, where it enters the nut, is compelled to turn with the shell. This rod being also square where it passes through the grooved plug E causes the plug E to revolve with it. When the shell U is turned from right to left, this plug E is unscrewed from its place in the water-chamber, and then the valve-rod and the valves D G can be removed from the standpipe without displacing the stand-pipe itself. After these parts have been withdrawn from the stand-pipe, the shell U and the nut B can be unscrewed by turning in the opposite di rection. Itis obvious that when the shell U is turned in the direction to unscrew the plug E the left-hand thread that unites the shell and the nut B are tightened, and hence these parts can never be accidentally uncoupled, but must be removed from the hydrant before they can be taken apart. This construction admits of the working parts of the hydrant being readily removed without digging or in any way destroying the body of the shell of the hydrant.

Having thus described my invention, I claimv 1. In a plug or hydrant, the combination of the vertically-moving valve-rod, a valve which is rigidly secured thereto, a sliding valve which is placed loosely upon the valve-rod, a spring for separating the two valves, and a perforated plug which is placed in the upper part of the chamber, the valve-rod being provided with a shoulder for forcing the sliding valve downward when the stationary valve is closed, substantially as shown.

2. In a plug or hydrant, the combination of the water chamber, the endwise moving valve-rod having a stationary compressionvalve secured to its lower end, with the sliding valve which is placed upon the rod, and a spring which is placed betweenthe two valves, for the purpose of moving the sliding valve upward when the valve is left free to operate, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the stand pipe N, the flange T, the valve-rod J being made angu lar where it passes through the plug, so as to IOO cause it to revolve with it, the shell U, provided flange, the valve-rod, and the screw-shaft X, with the nut B in its lower end, and the nut substantially as'shown and described. IO Y, the shaft being made square where it passes In testimony whereof I affix my signature in through the nut B, substantially as described. presence of two witnesses.

5 4. In a plug or hydrant, the combination of HUGO SCHNEIDER.

the upper part,S, the stand-pipe provided with \Vitnesses: the flange T, the packing-shell U, the nut or PAUL SCHNEIDER,

plug Y, for forcing the shell down upon the ERNsT O. SUBWAY. 

